North Hennepin News

After missing the constitutional deadline on May 19, the Minnesota Legislature reconvened for a one-day special session to finalize the state's two-year budget. State Representative Danny Nadeau (R-Champlin) described the session as both frustrating and an opportunity to deliver results for students, families, communities, and the healthcare system.

On education policy, Nadeau noted that while nonpublic pupil aid was protected and charter school funding remained intact, there were significant concerns. "While increasing the Department of Education's budget by $17 million, this bill cut more than $70 million from our schools. That’s a step backwards," he said. He highlighted his own bill allowing childcare aides to substitute during arrivals and departures but expressed disappointment at not securing additional funds for early learning scholarships.

The health bill passed during the session aims to protect patients and preserve rural care without introducing new taxes on Minnesota’s healthcare system. According to Nadeau: "This legislation secures critical funding for hospitals and EMS, especially in Greater Minnesota, while pushing back on provider tax increases, a ban on hospital facility fees, excessive healthcare surcharges, and special interest group proposals that would have driven up costs for providers and patients alike." He also spoke about establishing a hospital directed payment program expected to bring nearly $1 billion in federal funding for Medical Assistance recipients.

Nadeau pointed out progress toward creating a single pharmacy benefit administrator for public programs to improve transparency and drug pricing. Additionally, reimbursement rates for mental health services were increased: "I fought hard to raise reimbursement rates and increase access while ensuring that the assessment placed on our managed care organizations was refunded, making sure that our fully insured market was held harmless."

The human services bill introduced reforms intended to support nursing homes, address fraud prevention, and enhance disability services. "We stopped the governor’s proposal to shift $400 million onto counties... We secured $95 million to support our nursing homes in managing new state-imposed costs," Nadeau said. The bill also included investments in substance use treatment and housing support programs.

Transportation finance focused on infrastructure by fully funding road construction and maintenance projects across Minnesota while preventing cuts to law enforcement or expansion of certain rebate programs.

In commerce policy changes this year included extending reinsurance efforts designed to keep individual market premiums stable. The final commerce bill reduced spending on cannabis grants and excluded new health insurance mandates along with other proposals deemed costly or unnecessary by lawmakers.

With these measures passed in special session—expected soon to be signed into law—the 2025 legislative period has concluded. Nadeau reflected: "This session was rarely easy... Transitioning from a 'trifecta' was significantly challenging, but through it all I stayed focused on the same priorities I’ve carried since day one: serving our communities and fighting for practical effective policies that improve lives."

He closed by emphasizing ongoing goals: "From strengthening healthcare access and education to securing infrastructure funding... we’ve taken meaningful steps forward... My goal remains the same and I’m determined to build on this year’s progress so we can continue delivering real results for the people of Rogers, Dayton, Champlin, and all of Minnesota."